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In an experimental manner, four performers and musicians make use of traditional Alpine live music, various group dances and ritualised practices. Liberating them from conservativism and conventions, they establish an unseen fusion of artistic reinterpretations and temporary social attributions of meaning.

Defying categorisation and pigeonholing, the Sons of Sissy do everything they can to live up to their name as they conduct themselves as part weird folk-music quartet, part experimentally playful ritual dance combo, using humour to radically disrupt the hackneyed male role models in old traditions.

Approximate running time:
60 minutes, no intermission.

No language

Discussion with artists after the performance in the New Stage foyer.

Simon Mayer studied at the Vienna State Opera Ballet School and P.A.R.T.S in Brussels, and was a member of the Vienna State Opera Ballet. In 2009, he founded the band “Rising Halfmoon”, as a singer, guitarist and songwriter. As a dancer/choreographer and musician, he has been involved in productions of Anne Teresa de Keersmaeker/ROSAS (The Song), Wim Vandekeybus (Frisking) and Zita Swoon. In 2014, Simon released his most recent music album, Monkeymind.

His choreographic repertoire includes solos, duets and group pieces that have been performed internationally (O feather of lead; Dancing with the Sound Hobbyist (Zita Swoon); Monkeymind; SunBengSitting and Sons of Sissy). Simon was Artist-in-Residence at the Theatre de L’L in Brussels and is the artistic director of the festival “spiel”, which he started together with his brothers and the association spiel. Simon teaches contemporary dance, community dance, traditional dance and voice techniques (Impulstanz Wien, Steirischer Herbst and other international festivals, and as a guest teacher at the Konservatorium Wien Privatuniversität).

With the kind support of the City of Vienna’s Department of Cultural Affairs, the Arts Division and the Culture Division of the Federal Chancellery of Austria, Kulturland Oberösterreich, Vlaamse Gemeenschap, Kunstenwerkplaats Pianofabriek (Brussels), WP Zimmer (Antwerp), im_flieger, Kunst- und Kulturverein SPIEL.